Tuesday, 31 May 2011

Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has announced his retirement from football with immediate effect. There had been speculation about Scholes' future in the past few weeks and it had looked increasingly likely the 36-year-old would end his stellar career after growing increasingly dissatisfied with his bit-part role.

And Scholes confirmed that view on Tuesday morning.

He said: "This was not a decision I have taken lightly but I feel now is the right time for me to stop playing."

It was hardly a surprise Scholes, who will join the coaching staff at Old Trafford from next season, should choose a low-key way to confirm his future intentions and the former England star even joked about it in his announcement.

"I am not a man of many words but I can honestly say that playing football is all I have ever wanted to do," he said.

"To have had such a long and successful career at Manchester United has been a real honour.

"To have been part of the team that helped the club reach a record 19th title is a great privilege.

"I would like to thank the fans for their tremendous support throughout my career, I would also like to thank all the coaches and players that I have worked with over the years.

"But most of all I would like to thank Sir Alex (Ferguson) for being such a great manager.

"From the day I joined the club his door has always been open and I know this team will go on to win many more trophies under his leadership."

Monday, 23 May 2011

The champagne was back on ice in the Old Trafford fridges on Monday as record breaking title winners United began the process of coming down to earth and preparing the battle plan for Barcelona.

The Reds toasted their historic 19th title as Old Trafford echoed to the chants of “Are you watching Merseyside?”

But Spanish giants Barca were watching as well as they geared up for the Wembley showdown on Saturday in the Champions League final.

After lifting his first trophy as United captain Nemanja Vidic was already looking ahead to the finale in London against the Catalan superstars who beat United 2-0 in the 2009 Rome showpiece.

“We have to come down after this excitement,” said Vidic. “We have to prepare as best as we can for Barcelona now.

“We are celebrating this title win but everyone’s thinking about the next game. It is the biggest game of the year.

“We know what it feels like to go to the final and lose. It was one of the saddest moments of my career. I am sure all the players won’t forget that. We know we are facing a very, very good team and we have to be physically and psychologically ready. Against Barcelona you have to be intelligent.

“They have qualities but we will try to work on their weaknesses and to expose it and try to win the game.”

Vidic was named the Reds’ permanent new skipper last August by Sir Alex Ferguson.

“It is a great honour for me to be the captain of such a big club,” the Serb added.

Proud

“I was very proud when I was given the captaincy and I am enjoying the role. But at the end of the day if you are captain and you don’t win a trophy it is not a great feeling. I am very glad we won it.

“It is such an important trophy for us this year. It was one of our main targets to win the Premier League and go above Liverpool. But this is not going to stop. We want to improve and get better.

“I arrived here in 2005 and every year has been getting better and better. It is just amazing. I’ve been here five years now and four times we have won the Premier League and have played in the Champions League final three times. It really is a dream. To be part of this team and this club is amazing.”

Edwin Van der Sar said his farewells on the pitch to the Old Trafford crowd and is just the Wembley final away from retirement.

“I would like to thank the manager for bringing me here six years ago. Maybe it was a couple of years too late! But I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here,” said the 40-year-old Dutchman.
“The fans, the players and the manager will always have a warm place in my heart. Manchester United is the biggest club in the world.

“Now we have to get that trophy next Saturday.”

United fans constantly saluted the ‘keeper during the 4-2 success against Blackpool and Wayne Rooney hailed the Reds’ departing number one.

“I thought it was Edwin’s testimonial,” said the striker. “He is by far the best goalkeeper I have played with. He is a pleasure to play with. He will be sorely missed.

“I am sure the manager will have a difficult job replacing him. I wish him all the luck in his career after football. He is a great person and has done really well for the team in the last five or six years.”

• Ferguson confident ahead of final against Barcelona
• Manager tried to sign Pep Guardiola for Manchester United

Sir Alex Ferguson will not be retiring even if his Manchester United side beat Barcelona in the Champions League final.

Win or lose, Sir Alex Ferguson will not consider retiring after Saturday's hotly anticipated Champions League final between Manchester United and Barcelona at Wembley. The United manager has already begun plotting for next season and has confirmed he would not be tempted to leave on a high even if his team complete a Premier League and European Cup double. Ferguson, who turns 70 in December, would be the second oldest European Cup-winning coach, at 69 years and 148 days, behind the Belgian Raymond Goethals, who was 71 and 232 days old when capturing club football's biggest prize with Marseille in 1993. This winter Ferguson began planning for the retirements of Edwin van der Sar, Gary Neville and probably Paul Scholes while tying Wayne Rooney to a new long-term contract after the England striker had agitated for a move to Manchester City. Ferguson says there is "absolutely no chance" of Rooney reviving his design to leave United this summer. United are in confident mood for the rematch of the 2009 final in Rome, which Barcelona won 2-0. "Rooney's form has been good for the last two to three months, [Antonio] Valencia and Park [Ji-sung] are fresh, while [Javier] Hernández has been a breath of fresh air to everyone," Ferguson said. "We have fresh players and that's important." After his aborted retirement plan in 2001-2002, Ferguson stopped thinking of the end of his Old Trafford career in age-related terms and concluded instead he would stand down only if his health deteriorated or he stopped enjoying the job. Now in his 25th year at United, and with more than 2,000 games as a manager behind him, he is aiming to match Bob Paisley's record of three European Cups with Liverpool from 1977-1981. United will field a strong team for the visit of Blackpool today, with Van der Sar, Darren Fletcher, Patrice Evra, Scholes, Anderson and Dimitar Berbatov all certain to start as Ian Holloway's team attempt to avoid relegation. Barcelona left eight players at home for the trip to Málaga, including Lionel Messi. "It's harder to pick the team for the Barcelona game because you are leaving great players out. The team that plays on Sunday will be all right," said Ferguson, who revealed he tried to sign Pep Guardiola, the Barcelona coach: "I spoke to his agent when he left Barcelona and moved to Italy [in 2001 to join Brescia]. We were a bit interested in him because he was a good footballer, [a] good passer of the ball. "He has created a different philosophy for Barcelona. I think the [Johan] Cruyff era laid the foundation for the width they used in their game and using the full size of the pitch. If you look at their midfield players over the last 20 years they have all been small. What has changed is the pressing and the areas in which they press the ball. That is what Guardiola has brought to the team." Asked about the threat posed by the world's best player, Ferguson said: "We will pay attentions to the abilities of Messi. They will try to get a passing routine in the middle of the pitch and keep the ball from us. The danger is that we pay them too much attention and that's why I make the point that we have to pay attention to our own game. "You can judge Messi at the end of his career. I think that's fair. It is a long career and what he has achieved at the moment is fantastic. You can only judge him against [Diego] Maradona, Pelé, Cruyff and Alfredo Di Stéfano at the end of his career. Ronaldo would come into that bracket, too." United won their first European Cup at Wembley in 1968 and Ferguson said: "The great thing about the last time Manchester United were at Wembley was that it completed Sir Matt's rebuilding of the team and everyone wanted him to win it. The whole country was behind him and I am not sure the whole country is behind us now."

Saturday, 21 May 2011

United were undone by Barcelona in Rome in 2009 after a long break in the build-up to the game

Sir Alex Ferguson’s Wembley XI won’t be left twiddling their thumbs as they wait for the big Barcelona showdown.
United’s main men will keep active in the build-up to the Champions League final, avoiding some of the pitfalls that befell the Reds against the Spaniards in Rome 2009.
Boredom and a lack of sharpness contributed to their Euro downfall in Italy two years ago.
But the United manager and his back-room staff have assessed where it went wrong in the Stadio Olimpico and will use tomorrow’s final Premier League match against Blackpool and Gary Neville’s testimonial against Juventus at Old Trafford on Tuesday to ensure the preparation is spot-on for next Saturday.
In 2009 United clinched the title with a win against Arsenal 11 days before the European Cup final.
Then for the final game of that campaign at Hull City Fergie played a team of youngsters, plus Wes Brown and Gary Neville.
None on starting duty at the KC Stadium played against Barca.
But eight who turned out in the title clincher against the Gunners played in Rome after a near fortnight’s break.
Rio Ferdinand hadn’t played for four matches before facing Lionel Messi and Co. Anderson had not played for 16 days and Ji-sung Park had not started for 17.
If Fergie had chosen a similar breather for his likely Wembley troops it would have meant a 14-day break since winning the league at Blackburn.
But the Reds boss has identified that his side need last-minute sharpening-up before Wembley.
And there are also some squad members who need to shake off some of the rust.
It should mean there will be no quibbles or cause for an FA investigation when United’s team is announced before the Blackpool game tomorrow.
The Seasiders are involved in a five-way scrap for survival and the rest will have a keen eye on Fergie’s selection.
"This game is not the kind of game you actually enjoy, playing someone at the bottom of the league," said Sir Alex.
"It is not the easiest game for me to pick a team in. Everyone is expecting us to leave players out. That will be the case. We have to think about next week.
"It is juggling the selections around. We have Gary’s testimonial on the Tuesday.
"That is important because his service to the club deserves a good representation from Manchester United in terms of the players.
"He has been a fantastic servant to us and I hope he gets the crowd he deserves. The one thing that helps us is that, with David Beckham coming, Nicky Butt and Phil Neville, along with Scholes, Neville and Giggs, it will be a fantastic occasion to reunite these players.
"There is no question they created a magnificent spirit in the place when they first arrived in the team.
"There are players who need a game anyway – Darren Fletcher, Paul Scholes, Anderson, Dimitar Berbatov, Patrice Evra, Edwin Van der Sar. They will all play against Blackpool. They need a game. Then how we manage the rest we will have to wait and see.
"If you lose a game and it affects other teams, you should be put under scrutiny in terms of the team you have picked.
"If you go back to the Hull game, we played all the young players in that game. Only Gary Neville and Wes Brown were experienced players. We won 1-0. There was no reason to criticise the selection that time.
"On this occasion it will be the same again. We have to make sure we win. If we go back to when we played West Ham (in 2007 when the Reds were already champions and the Hammers needed a point to stay up), Neil Warnock (Sheffield United manager at the time), for some reason, found it easy to criticise us. But if he watched the game that day, we battered West Ham.
"We brought on Giggs, Scholes and Ronaldo in that game. It was a bit unfair of Neil Warnock to do that. All Sheffield United needed was a draw on their own ground.
"The criticism can only be valid if you lose. Hopefully we don’t. We want to win it.
"But I have to juggle the ball about to make sure I keep the right mix and keep the right energies for the final against Barcelona.
"We have addressed the potential lack of sharpness for the final.
"That is why the Tuesday game for Gary is an avenue for keeping them ticking over.
"It is also about killing the time. It can be a long week the build-up to a European final. We found that going to Rome.
"We have done most of our work for the final this week. Training has been very, very good. Once we get over Tuesdays game it will be just ticking over to the final."
But has the Reds boss got all his 11 names for Wembley in his head already?
"I have not decided on my team for the final yet," he added. "There are a couple of things we have to address. We are giving Darren Fletcher every opportunity to be fit because he is a big, big-game player.
"He played in the reserves this week. He will play on Sunday. We are chasing him along a bit to give him every chance of being ready for the final.
"The midfield is the main part. Anderson has trained really well and we have Scholes’ experience.
"They will all play tomorrow.
"It will give everyone game time pretty much where we want it."

Friday, 20 May 2011

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson is confident Sunday's Old Trafford encounter with Blackpool will not prove to be Paul Scholes' Premier League swansong.

The break-up of the famed Class of '92 is almost complete now Gary Neville has retired.

Of the six players who went on to star for club and country, only the oldest, Ryan Giggs, will definitely still be at United next term.

Scholes is still to decide whether to follow Giggs' lead or Neville's.

It means his confirmed appearance against the Tangerines this weekend could bring down the curtain on a stellar career, when he was identified by Zinedine Zidane amongst others as the foremost midfield player of his generation.

Chief executive David Gill has admitted it would be no surprise if the 36-year-old called it a day, but Ferguson, who offered the player a new one-year contract six months ago, is not so sure.

"I don't think it will be his last game," said the Scot.

"We have discussed it and I have encouraged him to stay on another year.

"We will talk again at the end of the season."

The problem is Scholes has never given the impression of being as convinced about his own contribution as Ferguson.

He made his 21st league appearance of the campaign at Blackburn last Saturday when Ferguson wanted to try to tie up the title - which was Scholes' 10th such triumph.

But even though the midfielder started matches against Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City in the closing weeks of the season, doubt remains.

"I have to be happy with the way I am playing," said Scholes.

"You get to a point in your career when you have to realise why you are in the squad.

"Last season the manager felt it was best for me to be involved in away games and I agreed with him.

"This season, I felt great until I injured my groin against Rangers in November and I have struggled a little bit since."

Despite fears that Ferguson was going to select a very weak team for the encounter, which Blackpool need to win to give themselves the best possible chance of survival, the United boss intends to pick at least half a dozen experienced players.

And Van der Sar, who retires after the Champions League final with Barcelona on May 28, is amongst them.

Meanwhile, Ferguson also confirmed he will give his first-choice line-up some part in Gary Neville's testimonial against Juventus on Tuesday, when former England captain David Beckham will be a welcome visitor to Old Trafford.

"We have to think about that game because Gary has been a fantastic servant to this club," said Ferguson.

Thursday, 19 May 2011

Chief executive David Gill has warned Manchester United fans to prepare for a "busier than normal" summer in the transfer market.

With Edwin van der Sar due to follow Gary Neville into retirement, Paul Scholes yet to confirm whether he will extend his career by a further season and major doubts hanging over senior figures such as Michael Owen, Wes Brown and Owen Hargreaves, changes are inevitable at the Premier League champions.

It does appear youngsters Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley will be given their chance after impressing during loan spells with Sunderland and Wigan respectively.

However, Gill has given the clearest indication yet that United supporters can expect at least one big-name arrival, and the likelihood is there will be more.

"It probably will be slightly busier than normal," Gill told MUTV during the annual Manchester United players' awards ceremony at Old Trafford.

"Gary has retired already. Edwin is retiring and Paul has to decide what he wants to do.

"We have been working very hard over the course of the last 12 months to plan which positions we need to fill, identifying those players and trying to work on it.

"What Alex Ferguson has done very successfully for nearly 25 years is to reinvent the team slowly and integrate them within the established stars.

"That is what we will continue to do.

"It gives a buzz to everyone at the club when you bring in high quality players. It is something we look forward to with relish."

United have been heavily linked with Atletico Madrid's 20-year-old goalkeeper David De Gea, although it would go against Ferguson's preference for a goalkeeper with great experience.

Aston Villa's Ashley Young has long been viewed as a potential United target, although more latterly Inter Milan playmaker Wesley Sneijder has come into the reckoning.

The Dutch World Cup finalists would be an obvious replacement for Scholes, whom Gill admitted last weekend might opt to call time on his stellar career after the Champions League final with Barcelona at Wembley on May 28.

Gill's observations were echoed by Ferguson, who claimed he was chasing three signings to bolster a squad that has reached the Champions League final for the third time in four years.

"We have some ideas in mind," said the United boss. "Hopefully we can get them put in place.

"We have Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes coming towards the end of their careers, Gary Neville has already retired and Edwin van der Sar is retiring, so there are holes we want to plug up in terms of the safety and security of the team for the next few years.

"Of course, we have some excellent young players and a lot of them have progressed, which gives us a great, powerful squad.

"I am looking at maybe three signings which would boost our overall quality in our team."

Wednesday, 18 May 2011

A Football Association regulatory commission has warned Sir Alex Ferguson as to his future conduct in relation to recent comments about referee Howard Webb.

The FA received a huge amount of criticism for raising an improper conduct charge against Ferguson over the positive comments he made about Webb ahead of Manchester United's key Premier League encounter with Chelsea last on May 8.

Ferguson is not believed to have offered a significant response to the charge.

And he has learned he will face no punishment, beyond a gentle reminder not to do it again.

"A Regulatory Commission has today warned Sir Alex Ferguson as to his future conduct," said an FA statement.

"Ferguson was charged with improper conduct, relating to his pre-match media comments made about match official Howard Webb on May 6, 2011.

"The chairman of the commission made the following statement following the hearing: 'This rule was brought in at the start of the 2009/10 season and this was reiterated formally to all Clubs again on 21 October 2010.

'This is a clear breach of the rule and it is the first time such a matter has been placed in front of a Commission.

'As a result of this charge the Commission were aware of other occasions where pre-match comments were made by other managers.

'In this case, it was considered to be a minor breach, but a breach nevertheless, and it should be taken as a warning to all managers in the future that any such breach, even positive comments, are likely to result in a charge by The FA.'"

It was anticipated Ferguson would not be harshly treated over this latest disciplinary problem, which came just three weeks after he completed a five-match touchline ban for negative comments made about Martin Atkinson, following his performance in United's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea on March 1.

Tuesday, 17 May 2011

Rio Ferdinand says the prospect of becoming part of Manchester United folklore was one of his key driving factors as the Reds’ marched to a record 19th league title.

The historic achievement meant they became England’s most successful club at domestic level.

And it ensured that Ferdinand (pictured left) and the rest of the class of 2011 cemented their own place in the annals of United history.

Yet the £29.1m defender initially took time to make his Old Trafford mark.

Although his first season ended in a Premier League title, the second was scarred by that infamous missed drugs test that landed him an eight-month man.

And Fedinand’s return initially coincided with a fallow period for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side.

Since 2007 though, Ferdinand has more than made up for lost time.

The 32-year-old will collect his fifth title medal after Sunday’s Premier League encounter with Blackpool and then, on May 28, will appear in a third European Cup final when United meet Barcelona at Wembley.

“When I first came to United all I thought about was making sure I etched myself a little bit within the history of the club and to do that meant winning trophies,” Ferdinand said.

“I have been fortunate enough to be part of squads that have won trophies. You just really enjoy those moments.

“To be part of a club with such great history and be part of a successful team within that history is the icing on the cake.”

Once they have collected a record 19th title on Sunday, minds will be fully focused on beating Barcelona.

The Wembley showdown will offer United the perfect opportunity to atone for their 2009 Champions League final defeat at the hands of the Spaniards.

But Ferdinand says that if the Reds are to put the record straight, they must shackle Lionel Messi, the man currently rated the world’s best player.

“Messi is one of the best players in the world,” said Ferdinand. “He can hurt you anywhere on the pitch.

“But it’s not just going to be down to one or two people taking care of someone like him, the whole team has to do it.

“They will thinking the same thing with the players we have got. We have players that can hurt you from all over the park.”

Monday, 16 May 2011

Title King Ryan Giggs is backing Manchester United’s new generation to continue the record-breaking Reds dominance. Now a Premier League and European Cup double has been targeted as the foundation for their continued supremacy.

The 37-year-old Welshman landed his 12th league title at Blackburn on Saturday but, as ever, the celebrations will be hard but short.

Giggs was already looking to the future.

“This side can go on to more things,”
“Just like when we won the first one after 26 years in 1993, we won’t rest on our laurels and we will try and push through and extend that title lead.

“You look around the changing room at Fabio, Rafa, Chris Smalling and Chicha (Javier Hernandez). They will be at the club a long time.

“They love the club - you can see that. The way they play and their manner around the training ground it is obvious.

“This young group is all part of the manager’s way of keeping things going. He has that three tiers. Now it is me, Scholesy, Edwin and we’ve had Gary Neville, then you have the late 20s and early 30s below us and then the younger players.

“We motivate each other. We help the young players and the young players help us. You see them win their first medals and produce the football they are capable of and it is good to see.

“Definitely we want to conquer Europe now and win the Champions League at Wembley.

“We will celebrate this title because winning the league is something to enjoy. But then we will be focusing on Barcelona and winning the Champions League final.

“For a lot of us there is still that disappointment from Rome in 2009 against Barca when we felt we didn’t do ourselves justice that day.

“At the end of the season, you want to win the league and then have something else to look forward to. We have that chance in the Champions League.

Title

“In 2009 we were beaten in Rome and it was a bad end to the season - even though we had won the league. We didn’t do ourselves justice against Barcelona last time. That was the disappointing thing. If we do ourselves justice and get beat then that happens.

“But hopefully we can play like we know we can this time around.”

Eighteen years ago Giggs was in the throes of celebrating his first-ever Premier League title after Sir Alex Ferguson delivered United their long-awaited first league crown since 1967.

He was only 19 at the time and never envisaged he’d be part of the side who he supported as a kid that would overhaul Liverpool as England’s superpower.

And Giggs says every Reds fan owes a debt of gratitude to Fergie for the 12 titles in 18 years that chipped away at the Anfielder’s all-time record before they were dislodged from the top on Saturday.

“Nineteen titles is a great achievement,” Ryan added. “When I first came into the first team doing this was never on the cards.

“As a United fan growing up and seeing Liverpool winning everything in the 70s and 80s, it was tough. They are the biggest rivals and 20 years ago to be 12 behind you didn’t see this day coming.

“But credit to the manager and credit to the club. We have clawed the lead back and overtaken them. It is a special moment for the club and obviously for the fans who grew up watching Liverpool win everything. It is more so for those fans because of what they had to put up with.

“The manager has turned things around. When he came down from Scotland that was his aim - to try and first of all win the league and then claw back the lead Liverpool had.

“He has managed to do that and every United fan should thank him for doing it.

Sunday, 15 May 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson has defended his Manchester United team as worthy champions - but admitted this campaign does not compare with the 1999 treble-winning season.

A 73rd-minute Wayne Rooney penalty proved enough to earn United a 1-1 draw with Blackburn at Ewood Park and give the Red Devils a record 19th championship.

It also meant United will end the season with only five away wins, matching the total of Liverpool in 1977.

Yet Ferguson still feels his side deserve the accolades that should come their way, despite repeated doubts being cast over the quality of this particular season.

"It is not fair to say it's a bad Manchester United team or a bad league," he said.

"It is a tighter league, a harder league to win.

"Any campaign has got blips for anyone. You have got to look at the league in general."

However, even though his team could yet win the Champions League and were one game away from reaching the FA Cup final, Ferguson knows the overall campaign has been below the standards set in 1999.

"Let's not get carried away," he said.

"The treble season was something special. I don't think anyone will ever do it again.

"We made a go at it, as a manager of the club, you have to try that.

"But I didn't think it would happen. I thought we would get knocked out somewhere along the line. Fortunately it was the one you would want to win least of all because the Premier League and the Champions League are paramount."

United have now won the championship more times that rivals Liverpool, an amazing achievement given in 1990 the score was 18-7.

"It's not so much passing Liverpool," said Ferguson.

"That thing about knocking Liverpool off their perch, I don't think I actually said it, but it's more important that United are the best team in the country in terms of winning titles.

"Same with the FA Cup. We have won it more times than everyone and now we have won the Premier League more times than anyone."

Ferguson did throw caution to the wind to an extent this afternoon.

Trailing to a first-half strike from Brett Emerton, the United boss took off Fabio and slotted Antonio Valencia into the right-back role.

Ryan Giggs would have gone to left-back had Rooney not profited from Paul Robinson's foul on Javier Hernandez.

After that, the game petered out in dismal fashion, with neither side willing to try anything that might cost them the point they already had.

"You can look upon the last five minutes as demeaning the game but it was common sense for us and obviously it was an important point for them," said Ferguson, whose side will be presented with the trophy after their clash with relegation-threatened Blackpool at Old Trafford next Sunday.

"It gives us a real opportunity to look at how we can rest players and who needs to keep going.

"We have a responsibility to make sure we are fair to all clubs in the country who are struggling relegation.

"Manchester United will try to win next Sunday, there is no doubt about that."

Saturday, 14 May 2011

Blackburn1 - 1Man Utd

Rooney (second left) put away his penalty in emphatic fashion

The point clinched a 12th Barclays Premier League title for manager Sir Alex Ferguson on an afternoon of high drama at Blackburn Rovers - 25 years after the fiery Scot declared he wanted to knock Liverpool off their perch.
United had to come from behind to write another chapter in their history books after another typically uncertain away league performance in a season in which they achieved only five victories on the road.
They looked to be heading for defeat until Rovers keeper Paul Robinson was ruled to have brought down Javier Hernandez and the visitors were awarded a penalty.
The point took United beyond nearest rivals Chelsea and edged the Old Trafford club ahead of Liverpool, who won the last of their 18 league titles in 1990.
The United players were joined by Ferguson on the pitch for the post-match celebrations while Blackburn's fate will not be sealed until the final day of the season next Sunday when they visit relegation rivals Wolves.
There was a sense of irony that United needed a penalty to make sure of their latest title - the spot-kick decision coming just 24 hours after Ferguson was charged by the FA for praising referee Howard Webb ahead of last weekend's showdown against Chelsea.
Blackburn had taken a first-half lead through Brett Emerton after a mix-up in the United defence involving stand-in goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak who almost allowed Jason Roberts to take advantage of his carelessness.
Kuszczak, who is certain to leave the club in the summer because he wants regular first-team football, looked shaky for most of the afternoon and he was at fault when he failed to gather a harmless-looking cross from Emerton.
He could only touch the ball out to the right where Martin Olsson was on hand to fire it back across goal to Emerton who clinically dispatched it into the bottom corner of the net.
The goal rocked United and for a 10-minute spell Blackburn sensed another goal was possible.
United held firm and Hernandez forced Robinson into a neat save when he turned and fire a low shot which the Blackburn keeper did well to push away for a corner.

Blackburn were incensed and replays suggested Robinson did not pull out of the challenge before making contact with Hernandez.
Rooney kept his cool to fire home from the spot and from that moment on there was no doubt that Manchester United were heading for the title.
Nani should have made the title safe but wasted a glorious close-range effort. In the end, it didn't matter as United closed the game out with ease.
The full-time whistle sealed another landmark moment of success for Ferguson, who now has the luxury of being able to rest players in the final game of the season at home to Blackpool with his thoughts now turning to the Champions League final against Barcelona in two weeks' time at Wembley.

Darren Fletcher will be given 180 minutes to prove he is ready to face Barcelona. The Scotland international played for United’s reserves on Wednesday and is set to play a part at Blackburn.

Sir Alex Ferguson believes the midfielder will be crucial to avenging defeat to Barca in the 2009 Champions League final and is desperate to have him involved when the sides go head-to-head at Wembley.

Fletcher has recovered from the virus that ruled him out for almost two months, but is still working towards match fitness.

He played for more than an hour against Blackburn reserves and came through unscathed.

He is expected to start at Ewood Park tomorrow in a match that United need only a point from to secure a record 19th league title. “We still have to get that point,” said Fletcher. “We still have a job to do. The Chelsea result has set us up but we want to win the match.

“We will be going to win the match because we know how important it is for the fans."

Ferguson added: "We want to give him a chance. He is back training every day and is now over his virus.

"Darren played for the reserves on Wednesday, which has hopefully brought him on and we have Blackpool next week and Gary Neville's testimonial on the Tuesday before the final, so that gives us the opportunity to get him right."

Fletcher was suspended for the 2009 final after being harshly sent off in the semi final victory over Arsenal.

And his absence was felt as Barca’s midfield of Xavi and Andres Iniesta dominated in Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.

Without a recognised midfield enforcer that night, the Catalan’s were allowed to run riot, with Lionel Messi ruthlessly exploiting the freedom he was allowed.

Ferguson has insisted ever since that he knows what went wrong that night – and the absence of Fletcher is generally acknowledged as a key factor.

But as much as he wants his countryman in his starting XI on May 28, he will not risk Fletcher if he is not fully fit.

Intensity

Ferguson knows it could be disastrous to throw the 28-year-old into a game of such high intensity if the final comes too soon in his recovery.

Fletcher was left out of last Sunday’s clash with Chelsea and only played 20 minutes of the Champions League semi final second leg with Schalke.

Ferguson always earmarked the last two Premier League games of the season as the opportunity for him to sharpen up for the final having not started a game since March 1. The United manager has long-described Fletcher as a “big game” player and has likened him to Old Trafford legend, Mark Hughes, in his ability to perform on the highest level.

Fletcher lost significant weight while out and has spent the past month trying to put it back on, while working on his strength.

Ferguson will try to juggle his squad between now and the end of the season.

He will want to rest key players in the build up to Barca, while also securing the point necessary to clinch the title at Ewood Park.

With United playing both Blackburn and Blackpool in their final two fixtures they could also have a major say on the relegation battle.

Ferguson would not want to face accusations that he put out weakened teams against clubs fighting to avoid the drop.

But he will be determined to ensure United are in the best possible shape for Wembley.

That could mean starts for Dimitar Berbatov and Michael Owen, with Paul Scholes, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and
Darron Gibson also in the frame.

Ferguson will be heartened by the performance of his much-changed team in the 4-1 win against Schalke.

He is convinced that United will get the necessary point to move clear of Liverpool’s 18 titles and is already planning for the final.

United spent much of the week working on a system to stop Barca, which could see Ferguson revert to a five-man midfield after opting for a front two of Wayne Rooney and Javier Hernandez towards the end of the season.

But much could depend on how Fletcher comes through the next two games.

Tomorrow’s trip to Ewood will give United the chance to exorcise the ghost of last season when a goalless draw played a part in their relinquishing of the title.

Coming after defeat to Chelsea and Champions League elimination at the hands of Bayern Munich, Berbatov missed a gilt-edged to claim all three points.

The Bulgarian may well get the chance to make amends, but it is unlikely he will be able to force his way into Ferguson’s thinking for a starting role against Barca.

Despite his 21 goals this season – including five against Blackburn in November – he has been consistently overlooked in the big games.

There remain doubts about his Old Trafford future, with Roma, Juventus, Bayern Munich and Tottenham all links with summer moves for him.

Friday, 13 May 2011

Charged: Sir Alex Ferguson made comments about referee Howard Webb prior to last Sunday's Chelsea game

Sir Alex Ferguson has been charged with improper conduct by the Football Association over comments made about referee Howard Webb in the build-up to last Sunday's Premier League title clash between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford.
Although the comments themselves were innocuous, including a statement that he believed Webb to be the "best man for the job", they contravened FA Rule E3.
Ferguson has until 4pm on May 16 to respond.
Ferguson had said: "We are getting the best referee, there is no doubt about that.
"But (getting a bad decision) is definitely our big fear.
"We have the players to do it all right. We just hope it's our turn for a little bit of luck."
The problem for Ferguson is they were delivered last Friday, two days prior to the game.
That contravenes the rule which now states no manager should speak about a referee in advance of the match being played.
As the United boss just served a five-match touchline ban following comments made about Martin Atkinson in the wake of his side's Premier League defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on March 1, there is some concern at Old Trafford about the likely punishment.
However, in this instance, it does appear unlikely a suspension will be imposed.

Thursday, 12 May 2011

Manchester United are homing in on Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea - but the young Spaniard will have to be convinced the time is right to move to England.

The Reds are said to have lodged a £20m bid with the Spanish club for the 20-year-old, triggering the buy-out clause in his contract.

But they are waiting to speak officially to their target, who has been identified as a successor for Edwin Van der Sar next season.

The 40-year-old Dutchman retires after the Champions League final at Wembley and Sir Alex Ferguson has whittled the replacement process down to de Gea.

“David is under contract at Atletico Madrid and we don't talk about offers. That is normal,” de Gea's agent Hector Rincon told M.E.N. Sport.

“David is concentrating solely on the end of season with Atletico. But he is one of the most important players around at the moment so it is natural a club like Manchester United would be interested in a player like David de Gea.”

De Gea has a deal at the Estadio Vicente Calderon until 2014, but the club have admitted they have twice tried to negotiate a new deal for their coveted star who is rated as Spain's next number one.

Atletico want to up his salary and extend his deal, but so far de Gea has resisted.

The club have also said he must sign a new deal or leave.

De Gea is said to be unsure that a move away from Spain at his young age would be the best for him.

Schalke's Manuel Neuer had been on United's radar and shonme with his Champions League semi-final performance in Germany against United, though his second-leg display cooled the hype.

Bayern Munich have been favourites to land him and have just upped the price they are prepared to pay to £18m.

Meanwhile, following the signing of Anders Lindegaard from Aalesund in the January window, No2 Tomasz Kuszczak is expected to leave Old Trafford in the summer.

West Bromwich Albion are said to be keen to take him back to the Hawthorns.

Wednesday, 11 May 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson has revealed how he turned down the chance to be Arsenal manager just months before taking over at the helm at United.
The offer came early in 1986 and Fergie was keen to take Walter Smith to the Gunners with him.
But Scotland's World Cup campaign in Mexico that year meant the move to Arsenal fell through.
The Old Trafford chief made the revelations in the match programme for Rangers’ Clydesdale Bank Premier League clash against Dundee United last night - Smith's final match in charge at Ibrox.
"I was offered the Arsenal job and I wanted to take Walter with me," Fergie revealed.
"I thought I would sound him out when we were on Scotland duty together. We were going to play in Israel and I didn't know that Walter was going to Rangers at that time.
"I told him that I had been offered the chance to go to Arsenal and I asked him what he thought. He was positive, saying they were a big club.
"So I said to him ‘Do you fancy coming with me?’ Then he dropped the bombshell that he was going to Rangers.
"The thing about the Arsenal offer was that they wanted an answer right away but I couldn’t give them one as I was going to the World Cup in Mexico with Scotland.
"So the Arsenal thing fell by the wayside. Walter went to Rangers and then later that year I went to Manchester United."

Tuesday, 10 May 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted Manchester United must find a way of stopping Barcelona's own Holy Trinity if they are to stand any chance of winning the Champions League later this month.

With only a point required from their final two games to claim a record 19th league title, United are already looking towards the rematch of their 2009 final, when they were comfortably defeat by Pep Guardiola's all-star team.

The Catalans will be favourites this time around too.

And, whilst Ferguson has plenty of faith in his champions-elect, he realises Barcelona's main men have to be stopped.

"Obviously, Barcelona is the big one now," Ferguson told US-based satellite radio station Sirius XM.

"In the final last time we started off really well, then gave away a bad goal. After that Barcelona kept the ball very well, as they always do.

"What we have to do is find a solution to the Xavi-Messi-Iniesta problem.

"Everyone is searching for that because they are outstanding footballers. We have our share too.

"We have players who can cause any team a lot of bother and hopefully those attacking players will give Barcelona problems that everyone thinks they are going to give us."

Ferguson does look as though he will be picking from strength, with Wayne Rooney cleared to play in United's final two league games at Blackburn on Saturday and against Blackpool at Old Trafford - when the Premier League trophy will be presented - on May 22 after the FA accepted his claim that the gesture he made was questioning a linesman's eyesight rather than a reaction to the Chelsea supporters during United's 2-1 win.

The result was further proof that United may not quite be as bad as many people think, with Ferguson obviously the chief witness for the defence.

"Everyone has said this is not a good Manchester United team, that we are not this or that," he said.

"But we have scored more goals than anyone else. Our home form has been magnificent. We are undefeated in Europe. We are in the Champions League final and we will win the league by getting one more point.

"You have to put all the criticism to one side because I have to be realistic when I look at my team and ask 'Am I satisfied?'

Nemanja Vidic is a point away from hoisting his first trophy as Manchester United captain – and he thanks the Reds’ critics for creating the platform for the achievement.

The 30-year-old Serb has also warned rivals of the champions-elect that Sir Alex Ferguson’s much-maligned new generation of players will get even better next season.

In Fergie’s era as Old Trafford boss, only Gary Neville in November 2005 walked into a skipper’s job facing a more daunting task.

In the aftermath of Roy Keane’s controversial exit, Neville took possession of the armband in a time of transition and turmoil.

Last August, Vidic was officially named as the new captain with Fergie citing his appearance record as the reason for the appointment above Rio Ferdinand.

Vidic’s new assignment was made public days after Ferguson had learnt privately of Wayne Rooney’s stunning news that he didn’t want to sign a new Old Trafford contract.

When that became public knowledge, United were also dodging incoming flak from fans and critics alike as they stumbled along in the autumn.

Supporters and observers were also questioning that the modest £25m summer outlay to acquire Javier Hernandez, Chris Smalling and Bebe was not enough to regain the Premier League title from Chelsea and have an impact in Europe.

Fergie and the Glazers were held responsible to varying degrees for not doing what was perceived as essential refurbishment on the squad.

Rooney’s contract saga also had the squad quality at its root. There was an atmosphere of simmering discontent.

But Vidic took the blows on the chin and his leadership helped the Reds absorb the punishment.

The £8m buy from Spartak Moscow in 2006 cites the tough appraisals as the fuel that fired the bid for a record-breaking 19th title and a place at Wembley in the Champions League final against Barcelona.

“Complements are not always good for you. Criticism can help a team,” Vidic told M.E.N. Sport.

“Back in early season there were people who were always trying to compare this team to other United teams. They were saying that we didn’t have the individuals like we used to and we were not as good.

“But you look at the names in this team and you think ‘how could they say that?’ I couldn’t agree with all that was going on then.

Positive

“We have never been focused on what people have been saying about us but you can still get benefits from it. It can be a positive.

“Sometimes criticism can help a side. It can drag you forward. You have to work harder to prove to your critics that anything they are saying is not true. That it is different to their opinions.

“It pushes you to work harder. If you are getting complements then that can have the opposite effect. It can relax you. You start believing what people are saying about you and you are not on top of your game. We have become better as a result of all the words that were said about us. We always had enormous belief and we’ve worked hard together defensively and in attack. It is all done as a team.

“If we win the title we will have proved to everyone that we are a very good team. We are nearly there now to prove them wrong.”

One more point from the Blackburn and Blackpool games and United will be confirmed as the 2011 champions. Vidic also believes there is so much more to come from the squad he leads.

“This team has space to grow. I think that next season we will be even better,” he said.

“You see we have so many young players. Fabio, Chicharito, Nani, Valencia, Rafael, Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Anderson. We have a great big potential in this squad.

“This year they have proved themselves. It is a great squad and we can capitalise on what we have achieved.

“Some teams you feel you can grow up and improve. You sense there is the hunger and room to make progress. This team has it. We have good competition and crucial young players coming through. It is a great place to be.

“Players have the platform and back-up to be successful at this club. The environment of Old Trafford and all the people who work in it are geared for success.

“They have a winning mentality throughout the place. They are pushing and driving for success all the time.

“In terms of the playing side, the backroom staff want you to improve. As players, the coaching staff are always encouraging you to do better. They work with individuals to bring out the best in them and help them improve. It is all about getting every ounce out of everyone.

“This is a fantastic place to be to improve your game and be the best. It is especially so for young players. They have the chance to be at the best club and they have the support from the staff to ensure you get the best out of yourself.

“You are encouraged to work. The people who work with the players are always pushing you to move forward and progress. It is the mentality that sees United through so much. This team like all the others before them have a great hunger.”

Now Vidic stands on the threshold of having his picture adorning the walls of Carrington and Old Trafford as a league title winning skipper.

“It is great to be the captain of such a big club like United. To lift the trophy would be even bigger,” he said. “At United, it is all about success and if you don’t win the trophies it is not that exciting to be captain.
“Every trophy is so special. The first title I won in 2007 was the first time United had won the league in three or four years and that was very exciting. It was a first for me and the club got the league back. It was a great time. But this is a big achievement this year.

“I never dreamed of being captain at the club when I arrived. I never expected it. My target on arrival was just to play week in and week out.

“My mentality was to win the trophies as well but I never targeted the idea of me being first up to receive it. To be close to doing that is just amazing.”

Monday, 9 May 2011

Manchester United's record 19th title was effectively won when Sir Alex Ferguson handed in his team sheet for the Champions LEague semi-final against Schalke last Wednesday.

The champions elect have a trip to Blackburn Rovers next Saturday and a final-day Old Trafford clash with Blackpool to come up with the point they need to confirm them as 2010-11 title winners.

And the Reds boss believes they as good as got themselves over the line against Chelsea thanks to his gamble of playing his shadow squad against the Germans last week in the semi-final second leg that booked United a Wembley date against Barcelona.

“I think the team selection in midweek won us the title. If we win the title that was it,” said Sir Alex who is on the verge of his 12th league crown.

“It was a brave decision to play a different team on Wednesday but it gave the team energy to really go for it against Chelsea.

“They really put some work in today. They were fantastic. So I am pleased at that decision.”

When Ferguson moved into the Old Trafford manager's chair in 1986 United had just seven league titles to the club's name.

The 26-year wait for a league was ended in 1993 and the Reds began to slowly make ground on Liverpool's total of 18 successes.

The United boss got slightly ahead of himself amid the euphoria of the 2-1 win against Chelsea when he said: “It's fantastic being the most successful team in the country in terms of championship victories.

“As soon as that one in 1993 the door opened to us. I would not have believed it (overcoming Liverpool's record of 18).

“Once we got that first title the door opened and we improved and improved.”

United got of to a storming start in what was billed as the title decider with Javier Hernandez scoring after 30 seconds.

And Fergie paid tribute to his £8m Mexican bargain, who took his tally to 20 in all competitions.

“It was a fantastic start,” he said. “It was a great pass from Ji-sung Park. But Chicarito has been fantastic. For the goal he shaped to bend it the other way but see Cech on his wrong foot a bit so he slid it the other side. It was fantastic,” Sir Alex added.

“I remember Paul Scholes saying to me in Houston on pre-season that Chicharito will get you 25 goals as a sub! He hasn't quite got it yet but there are still three games to go!

“We got nervous because we kept missing chances. It gave them a lifeline. We should have been out of sight. But that is the nature of Manchester United.”

Ferguson had praised referee Howard Webb as the best official in the country before the match but the World Cup whistler turned down two United penalty appeals.

“We should have had clear penalty kicks but we can always say that if we win the title we didn't need the referees to get us it and that is even more pleasing,” Fergie added.

Sunday, 8 May 2011

Spanish side like to roll around as much as the English like to tackle hard, but neither will have the moral high ground at Wembley

Referee Frank de Bleeckere tries to keep the peace between Real Madrid and Barcelona at Camp Nou.

In his earliest days at Manchester United, Cristiano Ronaldo would react to tackles on the training ground with a yelp and sometimes a quick roll on the ground. His new team-mates – Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs among them – took him aside and advised him to be less theatrical: not out of righteousness, but because they knew it was the wrong signal for him to send to opponents in the Premier League. Ronaldo soon learned that amateur dramatics were a bad idea, because they incensed opposing fans, incited the media and encouraged the other team to kick chunks out of him and then call him effete for overreacting. There was the odd easy tumble to win a penalty but by the end he was a macho, domineering presence in the contact areas. A measure of Ronaldo's eminence is that he has thrived not only in La Liga but here in England, where his courage and tenacity are among our memories of him as he matured into a warrior. Now cut to the image of him brushing Barcelona's Gerard Piqué in Tuesday night's Champions League semi-final second leg and then falling on to Javier Mascherano: a sequence that caused the referee to disallow a Real Madrid goal. This was Ronaldo operating on the edge of the culture he now plays in: a league where the attacking player is always inviting the match officials to punish defenders for challenges that might pass unnoticed here in rough-and-tumble England. The news from Iberia is that Spanish football folk think the English have a nerve to pontificate about cheating. Last week in the home of the world champions there was incredulity at the level of condemnation from Premier League spectators after Barcelona and Real had served up a European tie that was part fiesta, part drama workshop. To many in Europe, England is the home of the leg-breaking tackle, the two-footed karate leap and sanctimony over diving, which, they claim, occurs just as frequently in the Premier League but is exposed only when perpetrated by foreigners. That part is not fair. Diving is always flagged by the public and media in this country but it may be true that some England internationals are denounced less vehemently. Judgments in football are warped by allegiance, and tribalism, so some Barcelona fans are still not willing to countenance the accusation that their team has a theatrical streak. Instead they blame the antics of Dani Alves, Pedro and Sergio Busquets on the macho tackling of Real Madrid. Quite why two propositions cannot be true at once in the world's favourite game is my favourite mystery. Yes, Madrid tried to kick Barça out of the competition, and yes, some of Pep Guardiola's men responded by turning the tie into an audition for a war film. Spanish football is right to diagnose English distaste for the particular sin of exaggerating the weight of blow, rolling on the grass and clutching the face as if it has just been rearranged by a juggernaut. All across Premier League grounds fans chuntered about bad acting in the Barça-Real games. Which begs the question: is there a moral order of cheating, and does English football have any right to look down on it from Olympus? Not with Nigel de Jong on the loose, no. Or Lee Cattermole. Not when Eduardo, Aaron Ramsey and Newcastle's Hatem Ben Arfa have seen their legs mangled by "challenges" that express the hype and mania of the English game. Nor is "simulation" hardly absent from our fixtures. Sometimes Didier Drogba stays on the turf so long you wonder whether he is having a siesta. Old Dicky Attenborough, a Chelsea life-president, must admire the ease with which Drogba slips into character. Blackburn's Morten Gamst Pedersen is among those who tried the new trick of hooking his foot round a defender's leg in full flight to make a fall inevitable and so deceive the referee. All across the Premier League officials now need to be detectives and assess intent, but without the tools that allow the armchair viewers to spot skulduggery. But that should not stop us wondering how Barcelona will approach the Champions League final against Manchester United, a fellow "footballing" side who are unlikely to employ force as a weapon, unless the Scholes radar malfunctions again, or José Antonio Reyes turns up in a Barça shirt. Our sensitivity to the tomfoolery in Guardiola's team is pious, to some degree, and maybe hypocritical (Spain would say), but it remains right to abhor the theatricality of Busquets, for example, who violates the spirit of the game. In the semi-final Barcelona could use the excuse that they needed protection from Real's violence. Nonsense, of course. A player who grips his face when his arm has been tapped is not calling for help from the police. He is conning every one of us. So there is not much for Barcelona to add to their manifesto for us to swoon even more. But in England, Spain or anywhere, people are entitled to hope the small core of actors in the world's best side will now hand in their Equity cards.

Thursday, 5 May 2011

Manchester United's Euro heroes aim to be the Premier League champions when they walk out for the European Cup final at Wembley on May 28.

The Reds stormed through to a London showdown against Barcelona with a 6-1 record-breaking semi-final aggregate win over Schalke.

John O’Shea, captain for the night against the Germans, believes the two crunch clashes – the first with Chelsea this Sunday that could decide the Premier title, and then the Euro shoot-out in the capital with Barca – should hold no fears for the Reds.

“It is a fantastic occasion now at Wembley,” said the Irish defender.

“We saw how well Barcelona played against Real Madrid. We know Barca are a fantastic team but they will be worried about some of our players too.

“Now we have to focus on winning the Premier League title. The game at Old Trafford this Sunday is set up for a classic. We think our excellent home form can see us through.”

Wednesday, 4 May 2011

Rio Ferdinand insists he is fully fit and ready to steer Manchester United through a hazardous path to glory.

The England defender has been troubled by a succession of problems for the past three seasons now.

He was making only his 26th appearance of the season when he turned out in Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal on Sunday, compared to the 43 that have been amassed by central defensive partner Nemanja Vidic.

Ferdinand's most recent problem was a calf strain that kept him on the sidelines for six weeks, since when he has been rested for another couple of games by Sir Alex Ferguson.

Indeed, it would be no surprise if the 32-year-old was omitted against Schalke, as United look to book a Champions League showdown with Barcelona at Wembley on May 28.

If he does, it will only be because he wants Ferdinand fresh, because the player himself is happy with his fitness just now.

"People keep going on about how many games I have missed and compared to the usual amount I play you could say it has been a bit of a sporadic season for me," Ferdinand told United Review.

"But I have been pleased with my performances and I feel back to my best now.

"My back is fine and hopefully I can put the niggling calf problems I have had this season behind me.

"I feel good and to be involved in the big games at this stage of the season, fighting for trophies, is what you want as a footballer.

"We just need to make sure we get the job done."

If Ferdinand is left out, Chris Smalling is his likely replacement.

The England Under-21 star has enjoyed an outstanding debut campaign following his arrival from Fulham and Ferdinand is convinced that in his fellow Londoner and Northern Ireland international Jonny Evans, United already have their defence of the future.

Tuesday, 3 May 2011

Patrice Evra insists the Reds must do it ‘the Manchester United way’ to bounce back from their setback against Arsenal.

Evra and his colleagues slumped from the high of Gelsenkirchen to a low at the Emirates on Sunday.

Now they must reproduce the effort of the semi-final first leg against Schalke to rubber-stamp their Champions League Wembley berth in the return against the Germans on Wednesday.

Then another big push against Chelsea on Sunday at Old Trafford could virtually seal the Premier League title – if the Reds halt the Londoners’ powerful late charge.

Defender Evra says there is only one way United are going to succeed.

“We just have to play the Manchester United way. Our destiny is in our own hands,” said the Frenchman.

“We were too nice at Arsenal. We played very well against Schalke but we didn’t deserve to win on Sunday.

“We didn’t feel we were in trouble. We know Arsenal. They keep possession of the ball but are never dangerous. But normally when we come to the Emirates, we always play with more power and aggression and create more chances than we did.

“That is what I am very disappointed about. They didn’t create a lot of chances in the second-half. Maybe they had two shots. But it wasn’t that. It was the attitude at the beginning of the game. That is why I am very frustrated.

Power

“It is easy to find some excuses. I don’t know what happened. We didn’t play to the Manchester United way. When we don’t play to the Man United way, we don’t deserve anything.

“People think when we played against Schalke the game was easy. We made the game easy because we were ready for the battle, we were ready for the challenge, we played with more aggression, with power, that’s why we made the game easy.

“Maybe we thought at the Emirates it was going to be easy, but we didn’t make the game easy.

“You have to kill that game early, not wait until you concede a goal, to wait until the last 20 minutes to play the Man United way. Of course, we played well the last 20 minutes but its not enough. If we want to win the title it’s not enough.

“However, I’m not worried because we know we didn’t do the things we normally do against Arsenal and I hope it was an accident we didn’t do that. Now we have five games left and we have to win every one because every game is a final.

“It’s a big frustration not to win at Arsenal. But we have the massive semi-final against Schalke and the massive game against Chelsea.

“If you want to win the title you have to beat Chelsea, if you don’t beat them you’re going to be in trouble. We don’t want to be in trouble.

“Let’s put Sunday’s game away and focus on recovering for Schalke but make sure we win against Chelsea. They’re the big rivals and if you don’t win against Chelsea you can be in trouble.”

United were angry a Michael Owen penalty appeal was turned down and Evra had his own shout after a tussle with Theo Walcott.

But instead of savaging referee Chris Foy, he added: “I don’t want to talk about the referee. The problem was Man United not the referee.”

Monday, 2 May 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson's fears Manchester United's Premier League title bid could be wrecked by a refereeing decision at Old Trafford next Sunday.

United now face a crucial encounter with Chelsea just three points ahead of the Londoners following today's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal.

Less than 24 hours after Chelsea profited from two errors by match officials to record a 2-1 win over Tottenham, Ferguson felt his own side were denied the chance of a point at the Emirates when referee Chris Foy failed to spot Gael Clichy's foul on Michael Owen.

Coming a couple of months after Ferguson was furious at pivotal decisions that went against United in a defeat at Chelsea, and still believing the Reds were on the wrong end of key calls in both matches between the two sides last term, the Scot is worried about history repeating itself.

"It's too big a game not to get the decisions right, Ferguson said.

"Clichy knew. He put his hands up in horror. Obviously, it gives Chelsea a major chance now. That's what happens when you get these decisions.

"They got one at Old Trafford last season so that's the worry now."

Ferguson does appear to be using a selective judgement on refereeing decisions involving United.

Against Chelsea last season for instance, Federico Macheda scored thanks to a handball not long after Didier Drogba netted from an offside position.

Whilst United were on the wrong end of two calls at Stamford Bridge this season, in the Champions League encounter at the same ground, Ramires was denied a cast-iron spot-kick in the last minute after being felled by Patrice Evra.

Even yesterday, Nemanja Vidic's first-half handball should have been spotted by Foy.

"It was difficult for anyone to see that," argued Ferguson.

"It was a mere flick of the ball. You don't really expect the linesman or the referee to see that.

"But [the Owen incident] was a clear penalty kick as far as I'm concerned. He was definitely brought down."

Owen himself claimed he was fouled, although he accepted United did not play well.

"Not seen TV replay but don't need to as I know mine was a pen," said the former England striker on Twitter.

"Heard people saying Arsenal should of (sic) had one too so can't complain too much.

"That was a kick in the teeth. We were not happy with our performance but it is important to put today behind us now and focus on things we can affect in the future.

"Still in a great position so time for one final push."

Owen also observed that all four Champions League semi-finalists lost this weekend, although Ferguson has already vowed to do something about that on Wednesday, when United will try to defend a two-goal advantage against Schalke at Old Trafford.

"We have a big week ahead," said the United boss.

"Wednesday is a European semi-final second leg and then the game on Sunday, so two massive games.

"We will regroup and freshen it up.

"I will make some changes on Wednesday without question. I will bring Paul Scholes back in, Dimitar Berbatov, Michael Owen.

"We'll need to do that but I will probably keep my experienced players at the back."

Should United lose next week, they will surrender top spot, on the slimmest of goal differences, with two games remaining and turn the title race into a two-game shoot-out

"We are in as good a position as you could ever wish for at the start of the season - semi-final of the European Cup, second leg, two-goal lead and go into a home game on Sunday level on goal difference.

Sunday, 1 May 2011

Sir Alex Ferguson conceded last week that United's away form in the Premier League is the one area he would accept criticism - and once again it has come back to haunt them.
Arsenal's title hopes might still be slim, but they've certainly turned the screw on the Reds.
United – as they have so often done in Europe this season - were able to ditch their poor away league form last Tuesday with their emphatic destruction of Schalke, but mysteriously were once more troubled by the travel demons at the Emirates.
Fergie was pretty dismissive last Friday when a journalist pointed out United's poor record away from Old Trafford against the top sides.
Only two league points from a possible 12 this season against City, Spurs, Chelsea and Liverpool is not great reading, and he thanked the media man sarcastically and with a wry smile.
Seven away points gleaned from the last 18 available since the Invincible bid was shattered at Wolves wasn't impressive either.
But shielding his side from potential confidence-sapping figures is pointless.
No matter the history, United are well capable of playing 'for the moment' - as they did in Gelsenkirchen to set up an almost certain Wembley visit for the Champions League final.
But at the Emirates the Reds saved one of their more quieter days for an occasion when they needed to be at their very best.
It wasn't wise for the Arsenal stadium's announcer to play The Clash's 'London Calling' before the game. They'd done the same in Germany at the Veltins Arena and that certainly inspired United's Champions League bid.
While the climax to the campaign has seen the Reds' resilience turn into panache over recent weeks, Arsenal fans have despaired that once again their side have choked when it really matters.
The Gooners live a roller-coaster life during a game – they admire the brushwork but tear their hair out at the final piece on the canvas.
And this was the Gunners all over yesterday. United could be reasonably content at allowing them possession, knowing they'd self-destruct or the Reds' defence would snuff out that final pass.
The Reds may have been cursing on Saturday watching Chelsea snatch a controversial win against Spurs.
The Reds' nearest league rivals remain in the contest thanks to the goal by Frank Lampard that shouldn't have been.
But you couldn't complain that Carlo Ancelotti has bagged crucial rights on good fortune going into the final weeks of the season after Nemanja Vidic got away with a blatant penalty offence at the Emirates.
Attempting to get a vital touch on Theo Walcott's dangerous cross, the Serb's flailing hand took the ball off Robin van Persie's head.
The Dutchman was livid that both referee Chris Foy and his assistant failed to spot the United captain's touch.
Although it was typical Arsenal – good build-up but no end finish - it was pretty untypical United, who lacked invention and spark. The Reds looked more like early-season stutterers than the slick machine of late.
With nine of the starters from the win over Schalke in Fergie's Emirates line-up - the only alterations being Nani for Valencia and Anderson for flu victim Giggs - perhaps the venture in Gelsenkirchen had taken more out of them than the stroll looked likely to.
United, though, don't get unduly panicked and they probably knew the longer they could keep Arsenal at bay the more likely Arsene Wenger's side would be to lose it.
And there was always a smash and grab potential for the Reds to burst away and clinch the win they desired.
One of their closest chances came just after the interval when Rooney's well flighted free-kick was pawed away desperately by the flying Pole Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal goal.
But in the end it was the Gunners who pulled off the smash-and-grab raid.
United's most dangerous spell, consisting of two free-kicks, coincided with the home side carving open the chance their supporters were beginning to believe was impossible.
Van Persie raced away down the right in the 56th minute and had time to stop, look around and pick out Aaron Ramsey.
The Welsh midfielder had the bonus of not being closed down and he seized on the luxury to simply sidefoot home.
United got away with the Vidic penalty incident but it was evened up when substitute Michael Owen was forced into a stumble by the clumsy Clichy as he ran onto an inviting Rooney clip over the top.
You'd have thought the Premier League trophy was about to be presented the way Arsenal fans celebrated at the conclusion.
United might be a touch more concerned now that they won't be the ones enjoying the ticker tape cascade on May 22, unless they can somehow pretend that Ewood Park is Old Trafford in a fortnight.

Manchester United have made a dramatic late swoop to hijack Manchester City’s deal to sign the highly-rated winger Alexis Sanchez for up to £26.5 million.

On the radar: Udinese's Chilean winger Alexis Sanchez is a target for both teams in Manchester

It is understood that Sanchez’s representatives met with City officials on Friday to thrash out personal terms for the Chilean international. But in an unexpected twist that will cause alarm at Eastlands, it is believed the agents then had a further meeting, this time with United, yesterday morning.

Indeed, it is thought that the 22 year-old’s representatives have now indicated that their client would prefer to join United if a deal can be agreed, even though it appeared that a deal was well advanced with their City rivals.

Neither club has yet to agree terms with Udinese, although the Italian club have accepted that Sanchez can leave this summer and is free to discuss a move. Personal terms are not an issue for either Premier League club.

It had been thought Udinese would hold out for up to £35.4 million for Sanchez, who can play as a winger or central striker, but it is now accepted that a fee of between £18 million and £26.5 million is more realistic.

If United have gazumped City — and it is believed that Sir Alex Ferguson personally intervened in the hope of doing so, having also followed the player for some time — then it will be a severe blow to City, who regarded Sanchez as their key summer signing.

They have tracked Sanchez for months, with officials, including football administrator Brian Marwood, travelling to Italy to monitor his progress.
Further talks were held with his representatives three weeks ago and since then the club have been confident that a deal was on the verge of being completed.
Despite City’s vast spending power they will not want to get into a tug-of-war with United over the player. United still have a greater global appeal than City when it comes to signings, even if the latter also qualify for the Champions League next season.